The Concert

It’s five in the afternoon when my ancient iPhone vibrates at the edge of my  wooden corner desk. 

I almost jump out of my half-broken desk chair, knock my elbow on the wood and drop the phone on the floor. 

To get it I have to roll my chair into the one corner of the office not taken up by the desk. I’m out of breath when I finally manage to press the green button.

“Maddie, it’s me”, my sister says, her voice bouncing. “I have to tell you something.” 

The chair squeeks as I slowly roll it back to the center of the room. “Now is really not a good time, Sylvie.” I say. “I’m in the middle of…”

“It’s really important Maddie,” Sylvie bursts out. “Really important!” 

I close my laptop. “Yeah? What is it?”

“I have a show tonight” Sylvie squeals. “This could be THE show Maddie.”

“Oh?” I fold my knees into my chest and spin the desk chair around. 

Sylvie’s voice is racing, ready to jump the tracks. “I’m opening for Fourty West. At the Lexington theater.” 

“Wow Sylvie. That’s awesome.” My voice sounds tinny.

Sylvie’s laugh is breathless. “Their opening act cancelled last minute and they asked me to fill in.”

I smile into the phone. “I’m proud of you, Sylvie. You’re gonna be great!"

“I need you to come, Maddie,” Sylvie says. “You’re going to come, right?” 

The seconds stretch between us. “I can’t, Sylvie. I have that presentation…”

“But Maddie…” She let’s my name float in the air.

“It’s a really important presentation, Sylvie,” I drum my fingers on the desk. “And it’s due tomorrow morning. Lexington… that’s a three hour drive. There’s no way I can get there and back and still finish this thing.” 

Sylvie laughs, high-pitched.“It’s five thousand seats, Maddie. I…I’ve never played anything this big before.” 

I take a slow breath out. “I know, but I really can’t this time. Jessie… she already doesn’t like me. I can’t mess this up.”

“But… I really need my sister there.” Sylvie’s voice is small now. 

I put my feet on the edge of the desk. “Can’t you ask Cal to come?” 

Her voice trembles. “He… we broke up.” 

My eyes land on the large photograph on my desk. There she is, my golden-haired sister, framed in silver. Her smile is wide, revealing her straight white teeth. I stand next to her, my hair cropped short. My smile reveals a chipped front tooth in all it’s rugged glory.

“I’m sorry baby,” I say. “That really sucks. What happened?”

“He… ” She presses the words out between sobs. “He slept with this girl. I think he was really drunk. ”

I frown. “Oh baby. I’m so sorry.”

“I need you, Maddie.” Her breathing is heavy, and too fast.

My eyes wander from the sisterly photograph to the neighboring photograph of Felicity, my brown tabby cat. 

My sister starts bawling again. “I just don’t know why he would… why wasn’t I enough for him? Why am I never enough for anyone?”

“Sylvie,” I say, my voice firm. “Don’t go there. You know what Dr. Brenner would say.”

“That I have low self-esteem because of Mom, and her drinking.” The words rush out of her. “And that I always pick the wrong men.”

“Sylvie.” My voice is firm. “You deserve to be loved by someone who treats you well, even if mom didn’t.”

Sylvie makes a small choking sound. “I don’t know what would have happened to me, if you hadn’t been there.”

“Deep breaths, sweetheart. It’s going to be okay. In and out.”

Sylvie inhales and lets the air woosh out.

In front of the tiny window the golden light of the setting sun lights up a swaying tree branch.

Sylvie breathes audibly into the phone. “Mad…please come tonight?” I sigh. 

Then, a knock on the door. “Hold on, Sylvie.”

I roll my chair into the corner to make space for the door to open. 

Jessie, my boss, pushes herself into the tiny room. She gives the iPhone a narrow eyed glare. “Shouldn’t you be working?”

I lower my eyes. “I’m sorry Jessie.”

Jessie moves the glare to me. “The sponsors just called. They’re swinging by for the morning meeting to catch your presentation."

She snorts loudly. “I told them to skip the trip. But Fred still believes in you. For… whatever reason.”

She flashes me a cold smile. “You better give him one hell of a performance. Otherwise I’m really not sure if things are working out for you here.” 

She rolls her eyes as she closes the door behind herself.

I slump in my chair, then pick up the phone. “Sylvie? Are you still there?”

“Yes, Maddie,” Sylvie mutters.

Pain radiates from my jaw to my temples. “That was my boss. I think if I don’t finish that presentation, she’s going to fire me.” 

Sylvie swallows. “She wouldn’t… would she?”

I roll my neck. “She’s been on my ass for weeks. I know it’s not as glamorous as singing, but I really need this job to pay the bills.”

Sylvie hesitates. When she speaks her voice is soft. “Mad, I really need you to come. I can’t do this without you." Her voice breaks a little. “You have to leave soon if you want to make it on time.”

The golden sunlight catches the glass of the photographs. Her smile and mine, next to each other, radiant and crooked.

“I can’t, Sylvie. For once in my life, I need to put myself first.”

I hear her echoing cry. 

“Sylvie? Please tell me you understand?” 

The silence stretches. Then I notice that my sister has hung up, leaving the line empty.